Asking is a large-scale work for piano solo that is a meditation and reflection on all of the meanings of the word “Asking”.

Asking was specially composed for Eve Egoyan.

As with many of de Alvear’s pieces for piano, it is based on a open structure that requires the pianist to make many little and big decisions while playing, so the work itself is asking questions of the pianist.

De Alvear says: “The dialogue between the interpreter and the music is one of the main concerns in my music. It is very important for a work to focus, like a mantra does, the thinking energy of the pianist interpreting the score, so that there is enough space for the inner being of the interpreter to open up and blossom.”

Maria de Alvear was born in 1960 in Madrid, Spain, and completed her studies at the Köln Musikhochschule with Mauricio Kagel. She has made musico-ethnological research in America, Scandinavia, Russia (Siberia) and North Africa, and was a pupil of Tsolagiu M.A. RuizRazo (Cherokee Nation) and Rahkweeskeh (Tuscarora Nation) in the USA. She works in interdisciplinary and multimedia contexts as well as in the field of visual arts. She received the Bernd Alois Zimmermann award in 1992.

Eve Egoyan is a Toronto based pianist who specializes in the performance of new works. Eve has performed many world and North American premières, and has appeared as a solo recitalist in Canada, Europe, Japan, and the United States. Her creative partnership with Maria de Alvear began in 1996.

Liner notes by Maria de Alvear.

Maria de Alvear

Maria de Alvear is of German-Spanish descent and was born in 1960 in Madrid, Spain. She studied harpsichord, piano and composition in both Spain and Germany. In 1986 she finished her studies in “Neues Musiktheater (New Music Theatre) at the Köln Musikhochschule with Professor Mauricio Kagel. She has undertaken musico-ethnological research in places such as America, Scandinavia, Russia (Siberia) and North Africa. In 1992, she received the Bernd Alois Zimmermann award.

Since 1990 she has been a pupil of Tsolagiu M.A. RuizRazo (Cherokee Nation) and Rahkweeskeh (Tuscarora Nation) in the USA. She works in interdisciplinary and multimedia contexts as well as in the field of visual arts. She has participated in many concerts, installations and performances worldwide, as well as television and radio productions (CBC Canada, Arte, TV Espanola, Deutschlandradio, Deutsche-Welle, Schweizerischer Rundfunk, Hessischer Rundfunk, SWR). Maria has also been involved in numerous CD and video productions and art exhibitions. In 1998 she founded the publishing company World Edition. She lives and works in Cologne, Germany.
Produced by: Eve Egoyan and David Jaeger